Oakland A’s: Determining the ideal starting rotation
At this point, the vast majority of the Oakland A’s starting rotation is set. We know who four of the five starters will be, even if they have not necessarily been slotted into their respective roles in the rotation.
It is how the A’s will slot their starters that leads to the intrigue of their rotation. While they have a pair of arms that they envision as future aces, neither are there at this point. Their other options are either middle of the rotation arms at best, or have been riddled with injuries during their careers.
Determining the ideal Oakland A’s starting rotation
That does not mean that the A’s are in a difficult spot. They have a great deal of depth, particularly at AAA, with nine possible options for the rotation. However, there are only five spots that need to be filled. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the Oakland A’s ideal starting rotation.
Fifth starter – Mike Fiers
In theory, the fifth starter role belongs to A.J. Puk. However, by bringing Mike Fiers back on a one year deal, the Oakland A’s hedged their bets.
However, the A’s are likely to be cautious with Puk. He has pitched a grand total of 36.2 innings since the end of the 2017 campaign, having undergone Tommy John surgery and numerous issues with his shoulder last season. He is likely to face an innings limit this year, and it would not be a surprise if he begins the season in the minors to further restrict his usage.
This opens the door for Fiers. He did lead the A’s with six wins last season, and has generally been a dependable innings eater in the back of the rotation. That is all that Oakland really needs him to be until the point that they feel Puk is ready to claim his place.
Mike Fiers is likely to be the Oakland A’s fifth starter for 2021. He may not be the most exciting option, but he is a dependable arm to round out the rotation.
The Oakland A’s third and fourth starters
Fourth starter – Frankie Montas
There is no questioning Frankie Montas‘ potential. However, it is fair to question whether or not the Oakland A’s can depend on him over the course of a full season.
Montas has flashed the potential to be an ace. He appeared to have his breakout campaign in 2019, only to have that season interrupted due to a PED suspension. Montas started the 2020 season in strong fashion, but a ‘minor back issue’ caused him to miss a start. From that point, Montas will a shell of the pitcher he was over his first four outings.
To this point, the A’s cannot be certain of what they have. Montas has yet to pitch 100 innings in any major league season, making it risky to slot him in atop the rotation. While he was Oakland’s Opening Day starter last year, Frankie Montas is better served in the back of the rotation until he can prove that he can be the pitcher the A’s hope for.
Third starter – Chris Bassitt
Chris Bassitt seized his opportunity and never let go.
Originally expected to be a depth option for the Oakland A’s, he became the fifth starter when A.J. Puk was unable to begin the season. Bassitt emerged from out of nowhere to become the A’s best starter, a steady, dependable arm in the middle of the rotation.
That is where he should stay for the 2021 campaign. Although he was their best arm, Bassitt is what he is at this point. He is not about to find another gear and become a true top of the rotation arm. But he is valuable to the A’s nonetheless, capable of taking the ball every fifth day and providing six quality innings.
The front line of the Oakland A’s rotation
Second starter – Jesus Luzardo
One day soon, Jesus Luzardo will be the Oakland A’s Opening Day starter. That time just has not yet come.
Luzardo did show flashes of his potential. He had outings where he was utterly dominant, but also struggled at times. His 4.12 ERA and 59 strikeouts were second on the A’s, but those numbers do not truly capture his inconsistency from throughout the season.
That will be the key for Luzardo going forward. As he continues to progress, he will need to be more consistent from start to start in order to be the ace that the A’s envision. This will happen with experience and coaching, as Luzardo has the raw talent to get there.
Eventually, Jesus Luzardo will be the Oakland A’s ace. That time just has not yet come.
Staff ace – Sean Manaea
Based on his statistics, Sean Manaea may seem to be a strange choice to be the Oakland A’s staff ace for 2021. However, he performed much better as the season progressed.
Manaea was one of the many players to struggle at the beginning of the abbreviated season. While some never found their footing, Manaea was able to after his first four starts of the year. He closed out the season with a 2.77 ERA and a 0949 WHiP in his final 39 innings, striking out 32 batters with just four walks.
That production is similar to how he fared in his return from his shoulder injury in 2019, which leads to the hope that this is the pitcher he can be. A regular offseason, and a relatively normal training camp, could allow Manaea to find that other gear that he seems capable of reaching. It is a bit of a leap of faith, but he has displayed the potential to be a staff ace, albeit in small sample sizes.
Next. Montas facing yet another setback. dark
Sean Manaea should be the Oakland A’s ace to begin the 2021 season. However, like anything else, these spots can change as the season goes on.